Tewksbury Athletes from Notre Dame Academy Honored

Courtesy Photo: Honorees from the Academy of Notre Dame Sports Banquet held last month at Lenzi’s Catering and Function Facilities in Dracut.

The Academy of Notre Dame recently held its annual Sports Awards Banquet where 38 scholar athletes were recognized for not only their talent and skill on the fields and courts, but also for their dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Athletic Director Lisa Zappala presented the evening’s most prestigious awards to four seniors, including two Tewksbury residents:

• Rachel Anne Morrison Scholar Athlete: Presented to Lydia Sweed of Arlington, who was captain of the tennis team and will be attending The Ohio State University.

• Alumnae Athletic Award: Presented to Erica Dirk of Tewksbury, who was captain of the softball team and will be attending the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

• Sr. Kathryn Lawrence McGuiggan, SND Distinguished Athlete: Presented to Carley Scarano of Tewksbury, who was captain on several teams and will be attending Roger Williams University.

• Theresa Boucher Award: Presented to Cathryn MacGregor of North Andover, who will be attending Wheaton College MA.

Also recognized were the following ten 12-season athletes and two 11-season athletes.

12-season

• Erica Dirk (Senior, Tewksbury)
• Eva Fandozzi (Senior, Merrimack, NH)
• Raphaelle Lessard-Tetrault (Senior, Tyngsboro)
• Maeve Norton (Senior, Chelmsford)
• Madison Odryna (Senior, Pelham)
• Anneka Paelinck (Senior, Merrimack, NH)
• Ashley Richard (Senior, Haverhill)
• Carley Scarano (Senior, Tewksbury)
• Lydia Sweed (Senior, Arlington)
• Taylor Willis (Senior, Hudson)

11-season

• Ashley Cotnam (Senior, Littleton)
• Loren Sullivan (Senior, Tewksbury)

Earning accolades for Most Valuable, Most Improved, Sportsmanship, and Coach’s Award for each of the athletic teams were:

Swimming and Diving

• Most Valuable Performer: Ashley Richard (Senior, Haverhill)
• Most Improved Swimmer: Caitlin Ryan (8th Grader, Groton)
• Coach’s Award: Carley Scarano (Senior, Tewksbury)
• MIAA Sportsmanship Award: Caitlin Durkin (Senior, North Andover)

Varsity Soccer

• Most Valuable Player: Madison Odryna (Senior, Pelham)
• Co-Rookie of the Year: Lauren Bradley (Freshman, Tyngsboro)
• Co-Rookie of the Year: Maya Wilson (Freshman, Tyngsboro)
• Coach’s Award: Ashley Cotnam (Senior, Littleton)
• MIAA Sportsmanship Award: Lydia Sweed (Senior, Arlington)

Varsity Volleyball

• Most Valuable Player: Cathryn MacGregor (Senior, North Andover)
• Most Improved Player: Loren Sullivan (Senior, Tewksbury)
• Coach’s Award: Kyra Kirkland (Senior, Nashua, NH)
• MIAA Sportsmanship Award: Aubrey Specht (Senior, Littleton)

Jr. Varsity Volleyball

• Most Valuable Player: Grace Manley (Freshman, Pepperell)
• Most Improved Player: Emily Richard (Freshman, Dracut)
• Coach’s Award: Isabel Roy (Freshman, Nashua)

Cross Country

• Most Valuable Runner: Abigail French (Junior, New Boston, NH)
• Most Improved Runner: Abigail Morelli (Junior, Pepperell)
• Coach’s Award: Eva Fandozzi (Senior, Merrimack, NH)
• MIAA Sportsmanship Award: Eileen Leach (Freshman, Groton)

Varsity Basketball

• Most Valuable Player: Sarah Morrison (Senior, Chelmsford)
• Most Improved Player: Mary Grace Handy (Senior, Nashua, NH)
• Coach’s Award: Loren Sullivan (Senior, Tewksbury)
• MIAA Sportsmanship Award: Taylor Willis (Senior, Hudson)

Jr. Varsity Basketball

• Most Valuable Player: Mollie Anderson (Sophomore, Billerica)
• Most Improved Player: Munachiso (Cherish) Chukwuezi (Sophomore, Chelmsford)
• Coach’s Award: Fiona Martin (Sophomore, Andover)

Indoor Track

• Most Valuable Performer: Maeve Norton (Senior, Chelmsford)
• Most Improved Performer: Cassandra Valin (Sophomore, Wilton, NH)
• Coach’s Award: Erica Dirk (Senior, Tewsbury)
• MIAA Sportsmanship Award: Abigail French (Junior, New Boston, NH)

Softball

• Most Valuable Player: Carley Scarano (Senior, Tewksbury)
• Most Improved Player: Gabriela Llanos (Sophomore, Dracut)
• Coach’s Award: Kendall Liggett (Junior, Litchfield, NH)
• MIAA Sportsmanship Award: Kaycie Pereira (Senior, Lowell)

Tennis

• Most Valuable Player: Emma Thompson (Freshman, Littleton)
• Most Improved Player: Claire Marston (Junior, Groton)
• Coach’s Award: Lydia Sweed (Senior, Arlington)
• Most Competitive Player: Ingrid Hanson (Junior, North Billerica)
• MIAA Sportsmanship Award: Charlotte Lang (Senior, Hollis, NH)

Track & Field

• Most Valuable Performers: Taylor Willis (Senior, Hudson) and Cathryn MacGregor (Senior, North Andover)
• Most Improved Performer: Mollie Anderson (Sophomore, Billerica)
• Coach’s Award: Fiona Martin (Sophomore, Andover)
• MIAA Sportsmanship Award: Maeve Norton (Senior, Chelmsford)

Lastly, special recognition was given to retiring faculty member Clarissa Samuels for the years of dedicated service she provided to the athletic program taking pictures, running the clock at basketball games and working track meets.